AN: Welcome back my loyal and patient fans! I'm sorry about that last delay (just blame school work, it makes things less complicated -.-). Dark Lust is in for quite a change (well, not really, oh never mind, you'll find out anyway...). And since it's summer, you can expect more updates. Also, please read my bio for information on my other fics. I'm starting a HUGE project that involves Hikari. But enough chat, onto the fic!

Disclaimer: Heh, me owning YuYu Hakusho? Like that's ever going happen...

Dark lust

Chapter 4: Heads up! Flying Vegetables!

I raised my head, looking at the curtains to see the sun had already risen. I still laid with Hiei, wrapped in a warm embrace. His breathing was soft and rhythmical. He's still sleeping, I thought. I carefully turned to my other side facing him. It was amazing...his expression was so innocent. It made me smile. I began to think, perhaps this would be my only chance to steal a kiss. I gently laid a kiss on his cheek and snuggled my face into the warm folds of silk. Then I felt him stir and his bright crimson eyes were staring into mine. He uttered a sleepy good morning and yawned.

"Did you sleep alright?" He said sitting up. I nodded and watched as he stretched. "That's good."

I decided I mine as well get out of bed now. I stood up and turned around to Hiei. "Would you care for some breakfast, Hiei?" He nodded and I smiled. "I'll get started on it right away." I walked downstairs and into the kitchen, stopping by the dining table. I was amazed to see about 20,000 yen sitting there. "What did she think we had planned?" I walked past it and opened the refrigerator door. Empty. "No wonder..." I heard Hiei shuffling into the kitchen as best as he could, obviously handicapped by his attire.

"What are you making?" I sweat dropped. What was I making?

"Well...it looks like we're out of pretty much everything. So I guess we'll have to take a trip to the store before we can eat."

"Great..." He said, sounding cross.

"I'm sorry, Hiei. I really had no idea..." He looked up suddenly and apologetically. I couldn't help but smile yet again at his charming expression. "Why don't we get dressed and head out? I promise I'll make it a quick trip. He nodded and I watched as he shuffled back out of the room. I nearly burst out laughing at the site.

After I got myself under control, I also headed back upstairs, stopping when I reached the top. The bathroom lay at the edge of my sight. Every time I glanced upon I got this unsettling feeling. I pushed the thought out of my mind, and walked towards my room. Without thinking I pushed my door open to find Hiei half dressed. The fire Youkai said nothing as he put his shirt on and turned towards me, grabbing his jacket. I stared for a moment and finally walked to my closet, grabbing a pair of jeans and a white shirt.

"So what is today Kurama?"

"Today is Saturday."

"Aren't you supposed to be at school today?" He said, sitting on the edge of the bed."

"Well, yes, usually, but Mr. Owanaga said I didn't need to come back to school until Wednesday. He said he will just send my homework home to me and I can work on it here."

Hiei seemed to be trying to figure something out in his head. Finally he gave up and asked. "Why?"

I hesitated. "Just because...I've been having trouble focusing is all..." I looked down at the clothes in my hand, gripping them weakly. Hiei was about to say something and stopped. Without caring I started to change and Hiei looked away without me asking. But for a second, I swore he watching me from the corner of his eye...

"Okay, you've got the list, right Hiei?" I watched as he pulled the folded piece of paper from his pocket.

"Do you really need to get all this?" He said, staring astounded at the list.

"Of course, Hiei. I'm not doing just one day's worth of shopping you know. This has to last the both of us until Wednesday." I said as I pushed the cart down the aisle. Hiei's eyes wandered from side to side, reading each and every product label. Once and a while he picked something up, turning it over in his hands and reading everything on it, and then finally placed it back on the shelf, just how it was. He obviously had never been in a grocery store before...

"How many different things are in this store?" He spoke, eyeing a bottle of soy sauce and remembering it was on the list, picked it up and put it into the cart.

"Oh, I don't know. Lots, of course. I never really thought to count."

"So far I've seen 356 different things." I almost stopped and stared at him. At least he was a little entertained...

We came to the end of the isle and I casually picked up some meat. Hiei watched for a moment and then decided to head down the next isle. He was staring at something intently. By now he would have moved on, counting more objects and reading more labels. But he just stood there, staring until he finally reached for it. I turned back to what I was doing, picking up some salmon. Mine as well have a nice dinner tonight...

I put the salmon in the cart and pushed the cart back over to the end of the isle. I spotted some shampoo, remembering that we were almost out. I also figured I mine as well buy Hiei some for his stay. I turned to finally see what Hiei was looking at. I sweat dropped and tapped him on his shoulder. Some young teenage girls were staring and giggling at the other end of the isle. I quickly pulled the small package from his hands and guided him to the shampoo.

"What is that stuff, Kurama?" I heard the girls laughing a little louder.

I mutter under my breath. "They're feminine hygiene products, Hiei..." His look of confusion didn't change. He obviously didn't get it. I quickly and quietly began to explain the cycle females underwent every month. Hiei got a disgusted look on his face. The girls walked off, they're laughter clearly audible now. I coughed.

"I figured you might want some shampoo for you're stay." I picked out a bottle of herbal essences, rose scented of course. He began glancing over all of it, his eyes finally resting on a dark colored bottle. He cautiously picked it up. "You can go ahead and smell it." I said, pushing up the cap. Hiei leaned forward and smelled it. He put the cap back down and placed it in the cart.

"Let's see..." He said, pulling the list out again. "Hm...where are the vegetables?"

"Right over there." I said, motioning to my right. "Want to get those now?" He nodded. I was glad. I wanted to leave that isle as soon as I could...

I was just turning around when it happened...

BOOM!

Vegetables went flying everywhere! I watched as Hiei dodged a stalk of flying broccoli, but I was distracted and missed the tomato coming right at me.

"Kurama!"

Splat.

I stood there with my face covered in tomato splat, Hiei trying to help as best as he could. He found a paper towel and rushed back to me. When I finally got it out of my eyes, I saw before the devastation. The vegetable isle had been blown completely apart. Potatoes were still rolling across the floor, shredded lettuce covered the nearby shelves, and cucumber chunks had exploded to every corner of the section. I hear a store employee yelling frantically.

"My vegetables! My store! My money! All gone to waste!" He fell to his knees. I began searching for the arsonist. I could see no one suspicious around. I sniffed the air cautiously. Nothing but the gunpowder still hanging in the air. At least no one was injured...

Several customers took advantage of the chaos and slipped out of the store with full carts. All the employees began to gather at the scene and sirens sounded in the distance. I dropped some money by one of the managers. Hiei and I then made our way out of the store.

"Did you sense anyone?" Hiei said as he watched me driving.

"No...no one, nothing. At least, I don't think so." I sighed. I should have been paying more attention. This might have been our opportunity to finally catch him and it went to waste. I guess we'd just have to wait for another chance...

"Well, at least you didn't get hurt..." I looked over to him as I stopped at a red light. I blushed at his sweet remark.

"Thank you for your concern." The light turned green. Hiei looked out his window.

I finally pulled into the driveway and we both worked to get all the groceries out of the car. It was a lot more work since we never actually had anything bagged...

After we finished I locked the car and headed inside, also locking the front door behind me. Hiei waited in the kitchen and I finally remembered about breakfast. I walked in and began pulling some stuff out for ramen. It wasn't anything fancy, but it would do.

"So Hiei, did you have anything in mind for the rest of the day?" I said as I cut some cabbage up.

"Not really. Why did you?"

"Not exactly." I looked out the window. "I suppose I should water the plants today though. It hasn't rained much lately." The cherry tree out back swayed a little in the breeze. I smiled remembering how I used to climb it in the spring, my mother smiling up at me. Such fond memories..

"I can do that while you're working on the food." Hiei offered. I turned still smiling.

"I would rather wait. Then we could both do it...together." Hiei looked happily at me. This is nice...

While I was finishing up, Hiei had decided to walk out back while he waited. I saw him looking over all of the flowers, closely examining each one. He touched the leaves and petals, smelled the flowers, fingered the stems. I was amazed he would be so interested. I carefully blew on the ramen, taking small taste. Perfect.

"Hiei, it's ready." He stood up and walked to me. I held the door open and followed him inside, filling two bowls on my way and placing them on the table. We both began eating, remembering how hungry we were.

"Twelve-thirty already...I can hardly believe it." I suddenly heard a knock at the door. "Who could that be?" I stood up and started walking, only to find Hiei blocking my path.

"Don't! It might be trap..."

"Hiei, I'm sure it's just a neighbor or something. Who knows? It may very well be Yusuke or Kuwabara." I began to walk around him, but he attentively stepped in front of me again. "Hiei, please, just let me answer the door." I already had plans on what to do...

"Kurama, I'm not letting you--" I ran to his side and watched as the little fire demon tried to follow. He was startled to find a little vine tightly gripping his ankle. I smiled back playfully and unlocked the door. I opened only to find no one waiting.

"That's strange..." I turned to look back at Hiei. His eyes were wide. I saw a shadow in the doorway that was not my own. I whipped back around.

"Hello Shuichi-san!" I almost fainted.

"Amaya! What are you--" She shoved a stack of work into my chest. "I got all your homework for you Shuichi-san!" She tilted her head to the side and gave me a big smile.

"Why...thank...you..."I took the papers as I heard Hiei's irritated grumbling in the background. Amaya leaned to the side trying to look past me.

"Is there someone else here, Shuichi-san?" I half shoved her out of the doorway.

"Why of course not! It's just me! Aheh..." She leaned to the other side.

"Are you sure? I thought I heard someone..."

"Must have been your imagination." I laughed nervously.

"Shuichi, come on! I know someone else is here. Who is it?"

"Really, there's no--

"Kurama! If you don't do something about this stupid plant you're going to regret it!" I sweat dropped.

"Shuichi? Who's Kurama? And who was that?" I tried to stop her, but she pushed past me, walking back to where Hiei was. I immediately dropped my control over the plant. I heard a 'Hn' from Hiei.

"Hi there! My name's Amaya! You must be a friend of Shuichi-san!"

"So. What the he--" I caught Hiei, placing my hand quickly over his mouth. He tried to yell something, his words completely smothered. Amaya looked at me strangely.

"Don't mind him. He uh, doesn't do to well with strangers." I laughed nervously again as I unexpectedly got kicked in the shin. I winced and uncovered Hiei's mouth, limping back. Amaya was slowly edging back towards the front door.

"Well, uh, it was nice talking to you Shuichi-san. Bye!" She ran out the door, slamming it shut.

I let out a exasperated sigh. Then I turned to Hiei. "What did you kick me?!"

"Why did you try to suffocate me?!"

"I wasn't trying to suffocate you! I was just--"

"You tried to kill me!"

"I did not!"

"You did--" We both went silent as the phone began to ring. I instinctively walked over and picked it up.

"This is Shuichi-san."

"..."

"Moshi moshi?"

"..."

Beep

I hung the phone up. "That was strange..." Hiei looked questioningly at me.

"Who was that?"

"I don't know..."